Lowes (foods) to offer pay-by-fingerprint

[BR_Parkway]

Lowes Foods plans to start testing a system that allows registered customers to pay by scanning their fingerprints at the checkout.

The fingerprint is matched to the person's checking account information on file, and the money is deducted automatically. No more writing checks, swiping cards or entering PIN numbers.

<snip>

Demand for the technology is expected to grow at a steady pace as more retailers install such systems. Estimated revenue for the industry is expected to more than double to $285.1 million in 2007 from $127.3 million this year, according to International Biometric Group, a New York consulting firm that tracks this type of technology.

Lowes benefits in other ways from the fingerprint system, said Susan Buck, director of marketing for BioPay, the Herndon, Va., company that sells the equipment.

http://www.newsobserver.com/business/nc/story/2241660p-8621703c.html

[pinniped]

1. Lowe's in on it.

No thanks.:tinfoilhat:

[Solon]

2. Well now I know where not to shop...

Why the hell do something like that, we already have debit and credit cards, along with good old fashioned cash. Hell I don't even like those "special" cards that you fill out to be a "member" of some grocery store, I don't want, nor need, that damned discount just so they know how many peas I eat every fucking week.

[Trillo]

3. Now our "fingerprints" will be in aggregators' databases? nt

[Robbien]

4. Pretty soon there will be fingerprint thieves who steal your fingerprint

and your fingerprint will get cancelled. No more shopping for you.

[Megahurtz]

5. Here we go, starting

the New World Order (the Bush Klan dream) and the Mark of the Beast.

Don't take it!

[mcscajun]

6. Um, I'll stick with my debit card, thanks.

Yeah...I'll trust a company to have my fingerprint data. Right.

"Lowes benefits in other ways from the fingerprint system..."

I'll BET they do!

[NYC]

7. We are not among friends.

[libnnc]

8. okay this is freaky...I just this very minute

walked in the door from a trip to my neighborhood Lowes Foods...its walking distance from my house so I shop there almost exclusively. (Costco for the big stuff and good steaks) I do like their points system--it does save me $$$ but I'll skip the fingerprint thing. Cold hard cash is all I trade.

[Sandpiper]

9. What next? Retina Scans?

Not that they're forcing anyone to do this, but the idea that they're offering it is disturbing, to say the least.

What's even more disturbing is that some people will take them up on it and gladly give their fingerprints to a corporate entity.

[OneBlueSky]

10. now there's a technoloby I'll NEVER use! . . . n/t

.

[Maine-ah]

11. eh, thats really creepy.

[quiet.american]

12. How long then before people start being mugged for their fingers?

Okay, I'm being partly facetious, but I just have a vision of ruffians sticking up someone who looks well-to-do and saying "Your fingers or your life!"

[Donailin]

13. Two words:

Fuck That.